Collection
At Madlik we light a spark or shed some light on a Jewish Text or Tradition. Created by Geoffrey Stern, an ex-Yeshiva student and along with Rabbi Adam Mintz we host Madlik Disruptive Torah on clubhouse every Thursday and share it as the Madlik podcast on your favorite platform.
madlik.com/Sheets
Filter
Madlik Model Seder 2024This year our Seder will be different from other years. For the first time in many of our lives it will be a Leil s\Shimurim,, a night of concern, uncertainty, fatigue and confusion. Let us follow the advice of the Rabbis to see ourselves as though we too are leaving our Egypt.
The Jewish Quest Podcast - MetzoraParshat Metzora - Geoffrey Stern is interviewed by Simon Eder of the Jewish Quest Podcast who asks how Metsorah is connected to evil speech and he discusses the importance of tsar'at in the Torah.
Geoffrey Stern is founder of the podcast, Madlik, a disruptive Torah podcast, which is published on a weekly basis in an effort to ensure that the spirit of Judaism continues to grow and flourish. He is a serial entrepreneur in the audio chip and self playing media playback product space.
The Kibbutz Haggadah - a visit to The Shittim InstitutePreparing for our Passover Seder we continue our exploration of the Kibbutz Haggadah with a visit to the Shittim Institute on kibbutz Beit Hashita in Northern Israel. Machon Shittim has the largest collection of Kibbutz Hagadot and an archive of close to a million texts which constitute Yahadut Yisraeli; Israeli Judaism.
The Next Day with Ruth CalderonIn Israel while the war in Gaza rages on and with over 100 hostages still in captivity, we sit down with Talmud scholar and founder of Amla; Ruth Calderon to discuss the need to reclaim Jewish texts and create a shared cultural language in Israel..... now more than ever.
Geoffrey Stern•37 Views•March 27, 2024•Secular Yeshiva,Shared Language,Ruth Calderon,Ahad Ha'am,Herzl,Bialik
Torat Kohanim, Then and NowParshat Vayikra - The Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is also called Torat Cohanim and has traditionally been the first book to be studied by children in the Cheder. From the mouth of babes up until the present not-so-fringe movement to rebuild the Temple we try to understand the unique place that these laws play in Jewish theology and politics.
Geoffrey Stern•89 Views•March 20, 2024•Torat Cohanim,Mikdashnikim,Rav A.I. Kook,Torah Study,Temple Mount
Transparency, Accountability and CitationParshat Pekudei - Moses feels obliged to acknowledge the individuals who designed and built the Tabernacle and to provide an exact accounting of all the funds used. We explore the profound place that transparency, accountability and most of all; honoring one's sources, play in Jewish tradition, culture and in light of the reckoning that lies ahead for the State of Israel and the Jewish People...will play in the future of our people.
Shekels CountParshat Shekalim - By tradition, the holiday of Passover is preceded by five specially named Shabbatot. The first is called Shekalim and we discuss the meaning of this shabbat in light of both Rabbinic and New Testament texts.
Human-Divine Interactions / Covenants and Cross-Purposes in the TorahParshat Ki Tisa - We invite Berel Dov Lerner the author of the recently published: Human-Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures: Covenants and Cross-Purposes to discuss his book and .... the copper basin found in the Tabernacle.
The Sorcerer's ApprenticeParshat Tetzaveh - We explore the enigma of the Urim and Thummim; the priestly breastplate, within the context of the Torah's explicit rejection of sorcery and divination. We wonder about contemporary incarnations of divination and prophesy in the form of opinion-polling and social media engagement.
Geoffrey Stern•74 Views•February 20, 2024•Sorcery,Urim and Thummim,Sorcery (קסם),Opinion Polling,Divination
Paradigm ShiftParshat Terumah - According to Rabbinic tradition Moses was shown a paradigm of the Menorah but was uncertain how to translate the vision into reality of the moment. Bezalel had no such reservations and succeeded where Moses failed. We use this tradition to explore the modern concept of Paradigm Shift and wonder whether we are at such an inflection point today.
The Black Church and IsraelParshat Mishpatim - We sense that the Torah begins to wean the children of Israel away from slavery, create social solidarity and protect against a victim mentality. We use the opportunity to invite our friend Rev Dumisani Washington to discuss the current state of the Black Church and Israel.
Jethro and the DruzeParshat Yitro - Today we celebrate Yitro and our Druze brothers and sisters. We marvel at the superlatives that the Torah uses to describe Jethro and how the same characteristics of loyalty, leadership and integrity are showcased by Israeli Druze today.
Nachshon and Action BiasParshat Beshalach - Nachshon is the posterchild of what Heschel called "Praying with your feet" and Judaism's bias for action over the status quo, action over reflection and action over prayer. Today we explore the darker side of Nachshon and the potential deficiencies of action bias in decision theory.
Entitlement ReformParshat Bo - We explore how the plague of the firstborn represents the culmination of the Genesis critique of primogeniture and transcends the Exodus narrative in the Israelite law of the firstborn and first fruits.
Geoffrey Stern•96 Views•January 17, 2024•Firstborn,First Fruits,Firstborn Offerings,Plague of the Firstborn,Laws of Animal Firstlings
MLK and ExodusParshat Vaera - We continue our exploration of Liberation Theology and its relationship with the Biblical Exodus. In his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech, Martin Luthur King Jr. shows his identification with a prophetic tradition which saw the universality of the Exodus story without diminishing its unique message for the Children of Israel.
Exodus and the birth of a national narrativeParshat Shemot - Following Classical Rabbinic sources that show a link between the Family Story of Genesis and the birth of a nation Story of Exodus we review a recently published Alternative History of Scripture by Jacob L Wright and we reflect on what made the Hebrew Bible so unique and eternal.
Until Shiloh ComesParshat Vayechi - As we complete the book of Genesis, we look at a few verses that have been interpreted by both Jewish and Christian exegetes and explore how these commentaries may have been engaged in a conversation rather than a polemic. In the process, and without ignoring the divisive nature of religion, we wonder at the power of scripture and the potential for religion to bring us together.
A Wonderful LifeParshat Vayigash. Joseph is confronted with his long-lost family who thought he had died. While many of us celebrate in this holiday season, some of us wonder what difference has our life made. How would the world have been without us? In wartime, with our finest youth being cut down before their prime we anguish, what difference could they have made. So join us as we explore the Aggadah and Jewish literature and imagine: A Wonderful Life.
Appeasement in its timeParshat Vayishlach - Jacob, now called Israel, approaches is estranged brother with trepidation. He splits his clan in half in order to minimize any losses and he sends gifts and otherwise tries to appease Esau. We explore appeasement and compromise in the Torah and Rabbinic Literature.
Editors
Geoffrey Stern
Owner